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Topic Review (Newest First)

06-22-2012 01:11 PM

CaptainWabamun

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

Rosmario - was expereincing same issue with my new-to-me Catalina 27 during my first weeks of sailing with it last summer. Problem was halyard wrap at the top of the furler. At least two remedies - I tried first last summe without much success which was adding a modified piece of cable to get some more distance between the top furler drum and the halyard. Eliminated some but not all occasions of the problem. Going up mast tomorrow to try second remedy which is to add a halyard organizer onto the mast to achieve a recomended 10 degree angle and more controlled distance between my halyard, the forestay and the furler drum.

..with such short seasons for sailing up north I'll be setting mast climbing record I am sure ;')

Barry

06-20-2012 06:42 PM

Capt.aaron

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichH

Loosen the halyard and 'spin' the drum by hand .... if spins freely its not the bearings in the lower unit.
Drop the sail and do the same with upper swivel .... if spins freely its not the bearings in the 'top swivel' unit.

THEN ... raise the sail and look to see where the top swivel is - it should (usually) be within 1 - 2" of the VERY TOP of the foil. You can do the same thing by raising the sail all-the-way-up with its tack disconnected .... when the disconnected tack sail is raised there should only be a gap or ~2" between the sails tack and the furler drum connection.
If the sail's luff is too short for the foil which leaves the upper top swivel at GREATER than 1 - 2" below the TOP of the foil, then make up a pendent of rope, etc. to make up the distance (your choice if the pendent attaches to the head or tack of the sail) .... so that the top-swivel is near that 1-2" from the top of the foil. This will create the correct 'lead angle' for the top swivel - the angle that the halyard makes from its sheave exit to the top swivel connection. Your furler manual has this exact angle - called 'lead angle'.

If the lead angle is LESS than whats specified the halyard will invariably 'wrap' and bind the top swivel as you attempt to furl. You can usually see with binoculars the halyard 'toggling' around the top swivel when the lead angle is 'wrong', the halyard is now interfering ('toggling' or 'attempting to wrap around the swivel') with the top swivel causing the apparent 'jam'.
If the pendent doesnt solve your problem ... then you need a 'diverter block' installed at near the top of the mast so that the 'lead angle' is correct.

Rx: If its not the bearings, then assay the halyard 'lead angle' at the top swivel.

I belive this is the case. As a rigger in Miami I installed a lot of "diverter bolcks" on boats to change the angle of the Hallyard to the swivel. That "hump" sound is the top extrusion coming free of the hallyard.

06-20-2012 06:01 PM

Brent Swain

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

A client, who worked for a rigger, spent a lot of time getting rid of the halyard swivel, replacing it with a block on the side of the extrusion, eliminating that problem.

06-20-2012 02:35 PM

RichH

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

Loosen the halyard and 'spin' the drum by hand .... if spins freely its not the bearings in the lower unit.
Drop the sail and do the same with upper swivel .... if spins freely its not the bearings in the 'top swivel' unit.

THEN ... raise the sail and look to see where the top swivel is - it should (usually) be within 1 - 2" of the VERY TOP of the foil. You can do the same thing by raising the sail all-the-way-up with its tack disconnected .... when the disconnected tack sail is raised there should only be a gap or ~2" between the sails tack and the furler drum connection.
If the sail's luff is too short for the foil which leaves the upper top swivel at GREATER than 1 - 2" below the TOP of the foil, then make up a pendent of rope, etc. to make up the distance (your choice if the pendent attaches to the head or tack of the sail) .... so that the top-swivel is near that 1-2" from the top of the foil. This will create the correct 'lead angle' for the top swivel - the angle that the halyard makes from its sheave exit to the top swivel connection. Your furler manual has this exact angle - called 'lead angle'.

If the lead angle is LESS than whats specified the halyard will invariably 'wrap' and bind the top swivel as you attempt to furl. You can usually see with binoculars the halyard 'toggling' around the top swivel when the lead angle is 'wrong', the halyard is now interfering ('toggling' or 'attempting to wrap around the swivel') with the top swivel causing the apparent 'jam'.
If the pendent doesnt solve your problem ... then you need a 'diverter block' installed at near the top of the mast so that the 'lead angle' is correct.

Rx: If its not the bearings, then assay the halyard 'lead angle' at the top swivel.

Ah, sounds like rbrasi is your guy--has the same furler. But in answer to your Q, no, I didn't replace. My Hood unit was all corroded inside and had to be replaced.

06-20-2012 12:47 PM

rbrasi

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

I have the same furler. The bearings are a nylon-like material, so corrosion is probably not to blame. Mine had problems because the sections that the sail attaches to separated and I ripped my Genny (twice). Make sure all the sections have set screws and they are tight.

06-20-2012 12:21 PM

Romario

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicklaus

Iíve had a similar problem with mine resulting from the angle the line enters / exits the furler.

It doesnít render it useless, but if my wife is unfurling the sail I will go up on the bow and push the line down so it exits the furler at an easier angle.

I don't think it's an angle in this case - I was up there when we were unfurling and I needed to push with my hands in addition to people pulling. The rope was on ok angle.

06-20-2012 12:02 PM

Nicklaus

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

I’ve had a similar problem with mine resulting from the angle the line enters / exits the furler.

It doesn’t render it useless, but if my wife is unfurling the sail I will go up on the bow and push the line down so it exits the furler at an easier angle.

06-20-2012 11:36 AM

Romario

Re: Furler hard to unfurl/furl on genoa

So, looks like bearings could be corroded - arf145, did you replace them? Is it hard to do?

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